Retort incinerator



July 2v2, 1969 A. R. sTuDLl-:R 3,456,603

RETORT INCINERATOR Filed oct. 24. 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 If- VI nl \I I f-f 1 r --I I l l I l l I I l l I ""l I I I l I l I I I l I I l I l I l l i I 1 L J 7V I l /I L M L J INVENTOR. ARTHUR R. STUDLER FIG.

July 22, 1969 A. R. sTuDLr-:R 3,456,603

RETORT INC INERATOR Filed Oct. 24, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet f5 INVENTOR. ARTH U R R. STUDLER duwn/ GM/L July 22, 1969; A. R. sTuDLc-:R 3,456,603

RETORT INCINERATOR Filed oct. 24, 1967 s sheets-sheet s FIG. 4.

vmix/EMDR. ARTH U R R. STUDLER @mW/@Www United States Patent ilice 3,456,603 Patented July 22, 1969 3,456,603 RETORT INCINERATOR Arthur R. Studler, 256 S. Pearl St., Denver, Colo. 80209 Filed Oct. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 677,596 Int. Cl. F23g 7/06; F23c 3/00, 5/12 U.S. Cl. 110-7 12 Claims ABSTRACT F 'IHE DISCLUSURE The retort incinerator of the present invention is adapted to receive and completely eradicate combustible waste materials or the like which have been previously treated in a preliminary incinerator or furnace. It involves a combustion chamber in which the waste material is blown tangentially therein in order to create a whirling action. A burner is positioned horizontal to the licor of the retort and faces the same direction as the ow of incoming waste material further enhancing the whirling, tubulent flow of incoming waste' and simultaneously burning and disintegrating said waste products. The top portion of the combustion chamber is designed to receive the whirling, turbulent mass of burning waste material after a suitable pressure has been built up. Vent holes in the upper portion of the retort reduce pressure therein allowing the waste materials to be completely burned prior to exit of the combustion products through the stack.

The most convenient means for disposal of combustible waste products is the use of incinerators, either alone or in various combinations in which the treated products of one incinerator is further treated by a second incinerator; however, such devices have always had numerous disadvantages since they release considerable smoke and other noxious products into the atmosphere. In many instances, this is the result of incomplete combustion of the waste products during the burning procedures. This is primarily due either to inadequately designed incinerators which are incapable of maintaining an efficient burning operation or to insufficient heat produced in the incinerator itself.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a retort for combustible waste materials received from an oven, retort, furnace or other source of polluted combustible material which discharges only clear non-objectionable combustion products to the atmosphere.

Another object of the invention is to provide a retort simple in design and economical in operation.

A further object is to provide an improved retort more efficient in operation than the incinerators and retorts of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the invention taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the invention taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a modification in which the retort incinerator is horizontally arranged.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the closed retort incinerator indicated as 8 is round and vertically elongated in appearance with a domed top. It includes the combustion chamber 10 with the walls 11 having an exterior shell 12 of metal construction sufficiently strong to give strength as well as support to the device. The shell 12 has an interior insulation lining 14 which is circular, possesses no corners or dead spaces and is constructed of any known fire resistant material. The interior lining 14 may be a fire brick and serves to protect the exterior 12 and serves to permit an adequate operating temperature within the combustion chamber 10, as well as to keep the temperature of the exterior construction 12 at a safe level. Supporting the walls 11 and connected thereto is the lower base 18, and in the approximate center thereof is a slight elevation or hump 20 which prevents cavitation of the whirling tubulent mass of gases therein. Substantially midway between the top and bottom of the said retort incinerator 8, the middle base 22 extends within the chamber 10. It is parallel to the lower base 18 and has a central circular outlet opening 24 therein. The said middle base 22 divides the combustion chamber 10 into a lower first stage retort chamber 26 and an upper second stage retort chamber 28. It serves to increase the burning time within the lower first stage chamber 26 as well as to build up a pressurehead therein. The outlet opening 24 is of a sufficient circumference to retain the pressurehead within the lower first stage chamber 26 in relation to the volume of air, fuel and other waste products received therein from a preliminary treating source indicated as 9 in the drawing.

Combustible waste material from conduit 2S connecting a prior treating source 9 is introduced into the lower retort chamber 26 by the blower 38 via conduit 27. It is of any suitable kind, but a standard paddlewheel type is preferred. The blower 38 is positioned contiguous to the retort incinerator 8 and is designed with conduit 27 positioned to open tangentially into the lower retort chamber 26 forcing the waste material therein in a turbulent, whirling counterclockwise direction. The air volume introduced in the blower 38 is controlled by a flue valve 40 positioned preferably in the blower, but may be in any other convenient location. The actual amount of material to be charged into the lower iirst retort chamber 26 is an automatic operation and is determined primarily by the type of waste product and the pressure within the said chamber 26.

An automatic fuel injection burner 42 is positioned near the lower base 18 and adjacent to both the blower 38 and the retort incinerator 8. It is parallel to the base 18 and is also placed so as to enter the lower retort chamber at a counterclockwise tangentially directed angle. Thus, the burner 42 not only carries out the initial burning operation, but aids in creating the tubulent counterclockwise movement of the waste materials.

The upper second stage retort chamber 28 includes a dome shaped vent door opening 30 positioned in the incinerator wall 11, and extends through both the inner lining 14 and exterior construction 12 so as to open the said second stage retort chamber 28 to the atmosphere. The bottom of door opening 30 is positioned level with the middle base 22 and serves to avoid the formation of an airpocket as the burning waste materials tiow in a counterclockwise turbulent action from the first stage retort chamber 26 through the outlet 24 and into the second stage retort chamber 28. The opening of door 30 is of sufficient size to introduce the required amount of air into the chamber 28 to vigorously continue the burning operation and, thus, to create a pressurehead at the outlet stack 32 centrally located in the dome 34. The door opening 30 also serves as a safety device, allowing excessive pressure to escape therethrough. Positioned in an equidistant manner around the incinerator wall 11 are a number of vent tubes 36a, b, c and d opening tangentially to the outer wall 11 and into the second stage chamber 28. The aforesaid vent tubes 36a, b, c and d are of sufficient size and number to reduce the pressure of the gases passing into the said second stage retort chamber 28 through the outlet 24 by an amount sufficient to allow complete combustion before passing out the stack. Vent tubes 36 are all positioned tangential to the wall as they enter the upper portion of second stage chamber 28, and they are placed in the wall 11 at an angle of between 30 and 35 degrees to the horizontal. Each vent tube 36a, b, c and d is placed about one-sixth of the height of the second stage retort chamber 28 below the opening of stack 32. The vent tubes 36a, b, c and d may be more than four in number, but they must be present in multiples of two. Their purpose is to reduce pressure near the top of the second stage retort chamber 28, thus slowing the counterclockwise movement of the gaseous waste materials and permitting them to be completely burned before exiting out of the stack 32.

It is to be noted that the upper first stage and lower second stage retort chambers 26 and 28, respectively, are described herein as integral units. However, it is within the realm of this invention to construct independent upper iirst stage and lower second stage retort chambers in conformance with the above description, but which are completely separable one from the other. In general operation then, combustible waste material is received by the blower 38 from a source 9 via conduit 25 `where it has undergone a preliminary treatment. The blower 38 forces the waste material into the lower first stage retort chamber 26 at a tangential angle and in a vcounterclockwise direction. The burner 42 ignites the waste material and aids in maintaining its turbulent action. The protrusion or hump 20 on the lower base 18 prevents cavitation of the turbulent, whirling waste material and, thus, engenders a better burning operation. As the burning continues at an elevated temperature, a suitable pressurehead is built up in the lower retort chamber 26 and the turbulent, whirling waste material passes through the outlet 24 into the upper second stage retort chamber 28. The vent door opening 30 in the lower portion of the upper chamber 28 is designed to add a suicient amount of air to the waste material so as to vigorously continue the burning operation and, thus, create a suitable pressurehead therein. As the gaseous waste materials move toward the top of the upper retort chamber 28, they are considerably reduced in their turbulent and whirling movement by air entering the vent tubes 36a, b, c and d which insures that the combustion products are completely burned and eradicated before being released through the outlet stack 32.

As a specific embodiment of the invention described above, the waste material forced into the retort chamber 26 is ignited and maintained at a temperature of between 1800 F. and 2200o F. Since the outlet 24 is considerably smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of retort chamber 26, a hold back pressure is built up in retort chamber 26 permitting better burning therein. The vent tubes 36a, b, c and d located in the second retort chamber 28 are positioned substantially about 27 inches above the said outlet 24. This permits a pressurehead to build up in the area of retort chamber 28 below the vents 36, insuring better burning of the waste materials. This arrangement also slows down the whirling movement of the waste materials within the retort chamber 28 above the vents 36 which allows complete combustion of the remaining waste material, if any, prior to being exited out of the stack 32.

It should be noted that the elongated retort incinerator 8 can also be horizontally positioned in contradistinction to the vertical arrangement described above (see FIG- URE 4). The combustion chamber 10 is similarly lined with a re brick 14, but on both sides of the middle base 22, the fire brick 14 is rounded in a non-cornering or filleting design. This prevents any dead space within either the first stage retort chamber 26 or in the second stage retort chamber 28. This design also aids in maintaining the whirling, turbulent motion of the combustible waste materials within the device. It will beseen that, within the second stage retort chamber 28, a slight wall extension 44 protrudes therein from the outer walls 11. It is slightly rounded on its inner or forward side to prevent corner# ing. The purpose of the extension 44 is to aid in maintaining a pressurehead in the retort chamber 28 and to aid in maintaining the whirling, turbulent movement of the waste materials therein, thus providing -for an enhanced lburning activity. The outlet stack 32 in this embodiment of the invention is arranged in a vertical position so that the completely burned waste material can be properly exited from the apparatus.

The vent door opening 30a located on the wall 11 is positioned on the lower or bottom side of the said retort lchamber 28. This is necessary in order to have the air lntroduced into the retort chamber 28 travel upward into the burning area, thereby continuing the vigorous burnmg operation therein. The vent tubes 36a, b, c and d in this modification of the invention are also positioned tangentially relative to outer wall 11 and open tangentially lnto the retort chamber 28. However, each vent is connected to tubing 46 which opens into the second retort chamber at or near the vent door opening 30a. The purpose of the vent tubes has been related above in the discussion relative to the principal or preferred embodiment; however, by having the vent tubes 36a, b, c and d re-enter at the door opening 30a, any excessive pressure within the upper portion of the second retort chamber 28 is forced into the lower portion of said chamber 28 allowlng for complete `combustion of any waste gases or other materials that may have been `forced out of the vents 36a, b, c and d which were not completely burned.

Thus, it is seen that, in this embodiment, waste material can be introduced into the device and a highly eicient burning operation occurs in a manner substantially s1m1lar to that discussed above. That is, blower 38 blasts the waste material (smoke, gas, ash, soot, etc.) received from a source 9 through the conduit 25 into the first stage retort chamber 26 tangentially and in a turbulent, whirling manner. The burner 42, also tangentially directed within the :chamber 26, ignites the material. AS the pressurehead builds up, the waste material passes through the outlet 24 and into the second retort chamber 28 where air from the vent door opening 30 passes upwardly into the burning mass, as does any excessive pressure from the vent tubes 36a, b, c and d which, in this modfication, are designed to re-enter retort chamber 28 near the area of the said vent door 30. As the burning operation continues, a pressurehead is built within retort chamber 28 which insures complete waste product combustion prior to belng released through the outlet stack 32.

The foregoing is to be understood as illustrative only of the invention which has been described in detail, and that, obviously, numerous modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A closed retort incinerator for combustible waste material comprising:

a first combustion chamber having a metal outer wall lined on the interior with a fire resistant material;

a lower base to support said first combustion chamber and integral therewith;

a charging means positioned adjacent said first combustion chamber and designed to force combustible waste materials in said first combustion chamber at a tangential angle thereto in a manner so as to create a turbulent, whirling mass of combustible waste material;

a burner means positioned contiguous to said charging means and to said first combustion chamber, said burner means being parallel to said lower base and opening tangentially `into said first combustion chamber in a manner so as to simultaneously initiate a burning operation and to further engender the turbulent motion of the wastel materials therein; l

a middle base superposed above said first combustion chamber and having a central opening therein, said middle base designed to retain said waste material in said first combustion chamber until a pressurehead of gaseous waste material has been achieved;

a second combustion chamber superposed above said middle base and also having metal outer walls lined on the interior with a fire resistant material and designed to receive the turbulent mass of waste material from the said first combustion chamber as it passes through the said opening in the said middle base;

a vent door opening positioned in the said second combustion chamber level with the said middle base and adapted Ito add atmospheric air to said burning turbulent mass of whirling waste material as it enters the said second combustion chamber;

a series of vent tubes positioned near the top of saidl second combustion chamber in an equidistant manner and placed so as to open tangentially within said second combustion chamber, said tubes designed to slow down the turbulent waste material and insure its complete burning; and,

a stack positioned in the top center of said second chamber and adapted to receive and emit said eradicated and completely burned waste material.

2. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said lower base has a central elevated protrusion to prevent cavitation of the turbulent mass of waste material.

3. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein the charging means comprises a paddlewheel blower designed to receive prior 'treated waste material and pass the same into said first combustion chamber.

4. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein the charging means is positioned to discharge into the burner such that the turbulent, whirling mass of waste material moves in a counterclockwise direction throughout both of said first and second combustion chambers.

S. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein the said vent tubes in the second combustion chamber wall are at least four in number and are placed at least one-sixth of the height of said second combustion chamber below the exit to said stack, said vent tubes being further positioned so as to have both a tangential angle as they open into the said second combustion chamber and between a 30 to 35 degree elevation angle above the horizontal.

6. A closed retort incinerator horizontally positioned and adapted for combustible waste material comprising:

a first combustion chamber having a metal outer Wall lined on the interior with a fire resistant material;

an end plate enclosing one end of said first combustion chamber;

a charging means positioned adjacent said first combustion chamber and designed to force combustible waste materials in said first combustion' chamber at a tangential angle thereto in a manner so as to create a turbulent, whirling mass of combustible waste material;

a burner means positioned contiguous to said charging means and to said first combustion chamber, said burner means being parallel to said end plate and opening tangentially into said first combustion chamber in a manner so as to simultaneously initiate a burning operation and to further engender the turbulent motion of the waste materials therein;

a middle plate positioned after said first combustion chamber and having a central opening therein, said middle plate designed to retain said waste material in said first combustion chamber until a pressurehead of gaseous waste material has been achieved;

a second combustion chamber positioned after said middle plate and also having a metal outer wall lined on the interior of a fire resistant material and designed to receive the turbulent mass of waste material from the said first combustion chamber as it passes through the said opening in the said middle plate;

a vent door opening positioned in the said second combustion chamber and adapted to add atmospheric air to said burning turbulent mass of whirling waste material as it enters the said second combustion chamber;

a series of vent tubes positioned near the end of said second combustion chamber in an equidistant manner and placed so as to open tangentially within said second combustion chamber, said tubes designed to slow down the turbulent waste material and insure its complete burning;

a connection tube having the outer end of said vent tubes opening therein, said connection tube designed to open in said second combustion chamber thus returning any excessive pressure to the combustion area; and,

a stack vertically positioned at the exit end of said second combustion chamber and opening therein, said stack adapted to receive and emit the completely burned waste material.

7. The incinerator of claim 6 wherein the charging means comprises a paddlewheel blower designed to receive prior treated waste material and pass the same into said first combustion chamber.

8. The incinerator of claim 6 wherein the charging means is positioned to -discharge into the burner such that the turbulent, whirling mass of waste material moves in a counterclockwise direction throughout both of said first and second combustion chambers.

9. The incinerator of claim 6 wherein the fire resistant inner lining is designed to have a beveled configuration on each side of the said middle plate thus providing a flleting effect.

10. The incinerator of claim 6 wherein a slight wall extension protrudes within the second combustion chamber, said extension providing adequate burning and aiding in pressurehead build up within said second chamber.

11. The incinerator of claim 6 wherein the said vent door and said connection tube open along the bottom of said second combustion chamber thus permitting the air and excessive pressure to move upwardly into the combustion area of said second chamber.

12. A closed retort incinerator for combustible waste material comprising:

a first combustion chamber having a metal outer wall lined on the interior with a fire resistant material;

a lower base to support said first combustion chamber and integral therewith;

a charging means positioned adjacent said first combustion chamber and designed to force combustible waste materials in said first combustion chamber at a tangential angle thereto in a manner so as to create a turbulent, whirling mass of combustible waste material;

a burner means positioned contiguous to said charging means and to said first combustion chamber, said burner means being parallel to said lower base and opening tangentially into said first combustion charnber in a manner so as to simultaneously initiate a burning operation and to further engender the turbulent motion of the waste material therein;

a middle base superposed above said first combustion chamber and having a central opening therein, said middle base designed to retain said waste material in said first combustion chamber luntil a pressurehead of gaseous waste material has been achieved;

a second combustion chamber superposed above said middle base and also having metal outer walls on the in-terior with a fire resistant material and designed to receive the turbulent mass of waste material from the said first combustion chamber as it passes through the said opening in the said middle base;

a vent door opening positioned in the said second combustion chamber level with the said middle base and adapted to add atmospheric air to said burning 7 l turbulent mass of whirlingtwaste material as it enters the said second combustion chamber; and a stack positioned in the t'op center of said Second chamber and adapted 'to receive and emit said eradicated and completely burned Waste material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,800,093 7/1957 Burg. y

.2,911,480 i 2/1961 `sage.

'6/19'62 Afef.

3,039,406 f' .FOREIGN PATENTS 1718,7'57 1'1/1954 Great Britain.

JAMES IW. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner vus. c1. XR. 23-277; 11o-2s 

